Courting Trouble

1925 Mystery ~ 2025 Summer Writing Challenge

Courting Trouble
70% Complete
35,000 of 50,000 words

 

These three novelettes create a tie-in series to M.A. Lee’s Sailing Into Mystery stories and Into Death novels, which feature the artist Isabella Newcombe Tarrant. Nedda Courtland enters 1925 America with these stories as she is Courting Trouble.

“Spanish Moss” is now available.

A Death, a Will, and a Way

“Poison” is one of the last words Nedda Courtland’s employer says to her.

Private secretary to a wealthy financier, Nedda has maintained a very British poise as she traveled the world. The New Orleans of 1925 brings it own unique flavor to her experiences. Yet nothing prepares her for Hyatt Ingram’s claim of murder in the hours before his death.

With no evidence as proof, she can only fulfill Mr. Ingram’s last wishes. Holding his absent son’s voting proxy and a new will, Nedda expects the murderer to emerge in the chaos she will create as executrix.

She never expects another murder.

LINKS

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FF2PTG9W

Books2Read https://books2read.com/u/bPM11l

MA Lee blog https://maleebooks.blogspot.com/2025/07/spanish-moss-opening-and-links.html

Coming in July is “Texas Sun”. Look for it on July 23.

Texas Sun ~ Means. Motive. Opportunity

The grime of a working oil field draws together people at odds with the summer heat and with each other.

In the heady flush of a new romance, Nedda tries to ignore the blazing tensions, yet troubling shadows have gathered.

Then Death makes his entrance, and the grim pressures erupt.

Following and Finishing is “Gulf Storm”. Look for it on August 23 ~ fingers crossed.

Gulf Storm ~ Bribe. Conspire. Die.

A hurricane threatens to disrupt the wedding festivities of Nedda and Hank.

With the approaching storm are a whirl of human crimes, and an accusation of a past misdeed rages from the shadows.

Will the hurricane’s landfall shred Nedda’s dreams, or will Death wreak its lethal destruction?

The trio collection should release in late September.

 

start 2024 with a freebie ~ or 2 ~ or 3.

Download your pick of our freebie — or take all 3.  We hope you enjoy every one.

Historical Mystery from M.A. Lee

Jack Portman had never forgotten Filly Malvaise. Then she walked into his local pub and into the clutches of a loan shark. Can he rescue her before she falls victim to evil?

The Lion’s Den is connected by a single thread to the Into Death series, which features the artist Isabella Newcombe. Jack and Filly first appeared in the mystery Christmas with Death.

Read this novelette and join M.A.’s newsletter with Book Funnel: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/wc84divkre 

 

Historical Fantasy from Edie Roones and M.A. Lee

“The Poisoner and the Faerie Huntsman” ~ Never reveal weakness to a Faerie.

Escaping a false accusation of poisoning, Melly and her hound seek refuge in Sherwood Forest ~ yet the Nottingham guard who accused her is on her trail.

That night, she encounters the black hounds of the Wild Hunt. Then the Huntsman arrives.

Has she fallen into greater trouble?

Read this short story with this link from Book Funnel, no requirements.

https://buy.bookfunnel.com/lz2d9qdz6d

This is one of M’s favorite Wild Sherwood stories [Edie has a different story that she loves, but she’s in love with the image of the guy =) . ]

 

Fantasy from Remi Black, a novella, first in the Spells of Earth trilogy.

bk 1 in the Spells of Earth trilogy of fantasy novellas

Elemental Earth is a life-potential power. Can it be wielded to kill?

Wizardry burnt out and memory gone, Desora re-built her life in an isolated corner of the Northern Reaches. She only wields the life-growing power of elemental Earth.

She has nothing of Fire, Air, or Water. No fiery bolts, no whirlwinds, no drowning spheres: nothing for defense or attack.

Shape-shifting wolfen threaten her, able to transform out of Moon-turn.

And strangely gory deaths in the High Meadow mean a mysterious monster prowls, looking for life to consume.

With death menacing, Desora has no protection except her wards.

Wolfen and the eldritch monster kill the defenseless. Can Desora discover new ways to wield Earth before she becomes prey?

A link for a pdf of the novella from Book Funnel: https://buy.bookfunnel.com/5fb72eu417